8 Day Gorilla & Chimp Tracking Safari Tour
8 days Gorilla & Chimp, For those who love primates and gorillas, this 8 days Uganda Rwanda tour will give you exactly what you want. You will have an opportunity to trek the Gorillas and Golden Monkeys of Rwanda in Volcanoes national park and also trek the Gorillas in Bwindi national park and chimpanzees in Kibale forest national park in Uganda; and in between enjoy fantastic game drives, nature walks, boat cruises, cultural experiences, and beautiful sceneries in both countries.
Brief itinerary for 8 days Gorilla & Chimp
Kigali City Tour & Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
Gorilla Trek in Volcanoes National Park
Golden Monkey Trekking & Transfer to Bwindi national park
Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi NP
Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park- Ishasha sector
Game Drive & Boat Cruise on Kazinga Channel
Transfer to Kibale Forest National & Bigodi Swamp Walk
Chimpanzee trek in Kibale & Transfer to Kampala
Detailed safari Itinerary for 8 days Gorilla & Chimp
Day 1: arrival-Kigali City Tour & transfer to Volcanoes National Park
on this 8 days Gorilla & Chimp , Upon your arrival at Kigali international airport, you will be greeted by your Mum and Dad Uganda Tours guide and driven to your hotel in a quiet verdant street in the heart of down-town Kigali. Arrive at your pre-booked hotel/lodge for a free drink by the hotel’s pool bar. Get briefed by your guide on the details of your upcoming memorable adventure.
8 days Gorilla & Chimp: Take a city tour or visit the genocide memorial site , the craft markets to browse amongst the pottery, carvings, batik, weaving, musical instruments, leather and fabrics on offer. You will have lunch. Later transfer to the Gorilla haven in the Volcanoes National Park. You will check in pre-booked accommodation in Rehengeri town just outside the park. And go for an exploration tour of the scenic twin lakes of Burera and Ruhondo. You will return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Location: Volcanoes national park
Accommodation Option:
Luxury: Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel/Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
Mid range: Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge/La Palme Hotel
Budget:Garden Palace Hotel/Kinigi Guest House
Meals Plan: Breakfast and Lunch as well as Dinner
Drinking Water and Fruits throughout
Day 2: Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park
Early morning breakfast and then after report to the park headquarters. In order to receive short briefings about gorilla trekking and also gets you allocated to the gorilla family. At 8:00am you will start to hike into lead by the ranger guide. Hike deep into the forest to have a chance to meet the endangered gorillas in their natural habitat. Gorilla trekking is unpredictable as meeting them depends on where they last spent their night from. After reaching the gorillas, you will spend an hour with and then descend back to the lodge for lunch. Later in the afternoon be taken on a nature walk to the twin lakes or visit the Iby’ Iwachu Village. To explore the Banyarwanda culture. You will return to your hotel for dinner and overnight.
Location: Volcanoes national park
Accommodation Option:
Luxury: Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel/Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
Mid range: Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge/La Palme Hotel
Budget:Garden Palace Hotel/Kinigi Guest House
Meals Plan: Breakfast and Lunch as well as Dinner
Drinking Water and Fruits throughout
Day 3: Golden Monkey Trek, Karisoke Research Centre & transfer to Bwindi
on this 3rd day of 8 days Gorilla & Chimp , Wake-up early for breakfast and then assemble at the Park headquarters for a short briefing on the dos and don’ts while the Golden monkey and also gets you assigned to the ranger guide. Later head to the forest to begin the search of golden, like the gorillas, once the apes are found you are strictly allowed only one hour with them. The trekking will take 1-2 hours after which you will return to the lodge for lunch and some rest.
In the afternoon you will a hike up to Karisoke research Centre established by Dian Fossey. Diane Fossy was an American primatologist who dedicated all her entire life conserving the endangered mountain gorillas that they become familiar to human. It’s because of her that gorillas can be met safely in their natural habitat without causing any harm to human. She stayed with these few remaining apes for a period of over 18 years until when she was killed by the said poachers. You will later transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park in Uganda.
Location: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Accommodation option:
Luxury: Buhoma Lodge | Gorilla Safari Lodge,
Midrange: Silverback Lodge | Gorilla Mist Camp
Budget: Bakiga Lodge | Buhoma community Bandas
Meal Plan: Breakfast and lunch as well as dinner.
Drinking Water throughout
Day 4: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi & Batwa Cultural Experience
After a cup of tea or coffee, the guide takes you to the park headquarters. For a short briefing about the dos and don’ts while with the gorillas and also gets you allocated to the gorilla group to trek. Bwindi national park host the highest number of these gentle giants in the world. Almost a half of the remaining mountain gorillas live in this park. Not only gorillas but also the park is a home to other species like butterflies, plants, primates, mammals, butterflies, frogs, among others.
Gorilla trekking experience last between 1-8 hours since meeting them depends on where they spent their last night from and once you meet them. You are strictly allowed only one hour with the gorillas. Just in case some of you are not interested in tracking gorillas, go for a short guided forest walk or Village walk to the Batwa community. Retire at the lodge.
Location: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Accommodation option:
Luxury: Buhoma Lodge | Gorilla Safari Lodge,
Midrange: Silverback Lodge | Gorilla Mist Camp
Budget: Bakiga Lodge | Buhoma community Bandas
Meal Plan: Breakfast and lunch as well as dinner.
Drinking Water throughout
Day 5; Game Drive in Ishasha Sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park
After a hearty breakfast at the lodge on this 8 days Gorilla & Chimp , you will then make a transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park passing through the Ishasha sector of the park for a game drive. You will have a chance to see the tree climbing lions sited on fig trees or tree branches, you will also see many other animals like buffaloes and if lucky, you spot the rare shoebill stork.
The drive will be through one of the most breathtaking parts of Uganda because of the rolling hills, volcanic landscapes, crater lakes and verdant vegetation. You will later transfer to central part of the park where you will check in at the lodge for dinner and overnight stay at.
Destination: Queen Elizabeth National Park
Meal plan: half board
Accommodation Option:
Budget: Pumba Safari Cottages | Bush Lodge
Mid-Range: Irungu Forest Safari Lodge | Elephant Hub Lodge
Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge| katara Lodge
Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Drinking Water and Fruits throughout
Day 6: Game drive & Boat cruise – Queen Elizabeth Park
After breakfast at the lodge go for an early morning game drive through the park for an opportunity to see the early risen species such as the hyenas, wildebeest and many other different wildlife species like waterbucks, lions, elephants, , giraffes, antelopes, buffaloes, leopards, warthogs, plus a variety of bird species. You will also view different crater lakes in the park.
After this 3 hours game drive, head back to the lodge for lunch and relaxation as you prepare for an afternoon 2 hour boat cruise along the Kazinga channel. The kazinga channel connects two lakes George and Edward and it’s a beautiful place to see more species of wildlife along the shores, it’s a home to over 560 hippos; also birds and other animals like crocodiles, elephants, antelopes among others . Return to the lodge and have dinner and overnight.
Destination: Queen Elizabeth National Park
Meal plan: half board
Accommodation Option:
Budget: Pumba Safari Cottages | Bush Lodge
Mid-Range: Irungu Forest Safari Lodge | Elephant Hub Lodge
Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge| katara Lodge
Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Drinking Water and Fruits throughout
Day 7: Transfer to Kibale Forest National & Bigodi Swamp Walk
After breakfast, set off for Kibale Forest National Park a home to over 13 species of primates. The journey will take you through one of the most attractive areas of Uganda branded by crater lakes volcanic landscapes and lush green vegetation. Upon arrival you will go for a guided nature walk in the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary through swampy grassland, local communities and beautiful scenery.
You will also have a chance here to spot more species of primates and different species of birds and butterflies during this walk other smaller mammals. Bigodi is also a rich cultural heritage site where you can mix with the local people to learn about their traditional activities and lifestyles. Dinner and overnight will be at the lodge of your booking.
Location: Kibale Forest National Park
Accommodation Option:
Luxury: Papaya Lake Lodge , Ndali Lodge
Mid-range: Chimpanzee Forest Lodge/Chimpanzee Guest House
Budget: Kibale Forest Camp/Rwenzori View Guest House(Budget)
Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Drinking Water and Fruits throughout
Day 8: Chimps Trekking in Kibale Forest & Transfer to Kampala
Early Breakfast at the lodge, after your guide will take you to the park head offices. For briefing about the dos and don’ts while with chimps and after set out for Chimpanzee tracking through the forest. During the trek, you stand a big chance to spot more species of primates that live in the forest plus various species of birds. Once the chimps are met, you are only allowed 1 hour with the chimpanzees. You may find them doing their daily activities like feeding, breast feeding, making nest for the following night, playing etc.
On seeing chimpanzees, other primates can be spotted such as the Red Tailed Monkeys, LHoest’s Monkeys, Blue Monkeys, Black & White colobus Monkeys among others and also elephants, antelopes, buffaloes can be spotted in the forest. After this breathtaking experience, you will follow the guide back to the lodge for lunch. You will after the trek set off for Kampala through the famous Luwero triangle. You will arrive in Kampala in the evening. Dinner and overnight will be at the Hotel of your booking.
Location: Kampala
Accommodation Option: no accommodation, end of tour
Meals Plan: Breakfast and Lunch
Drinking Water and Fruits throughout
Additional costs can be arranged for extra costs , you will be dropped at the airport
End of 8 days Gorilla & Chimp safari to Uganda
What needed for this Safari:
- Uganda & Rwanda Visas which can be got either from your home country or on arrival at the Airports
- Chimpanzee, Gorilla and Golden Monkey trekking permits (paid for in advance through our company Mum and Dad Uganda Tours)
- Travel & Health insurance arranged for from your home country
- Yellow fever proof vaccination (certificate)
- Some levels of Physical fitness
Tour inclusions;
- Airport transfers
- Transportation in a 4WD plus all fuel for the tour
- Professional English-speaking driver/guide
- Accommodations
- Meals
- Drinking water in the vehicle
- Game drives and boat cruise
- Park entrance fees
- Activities as listed
- 1 chimp permit Kibale national park ($150
- 1 Gorilla tracking permit per person Bwindi N.P ($750)
- 1 Gorilla Tracking permit per person ($ 1.500)
Excluded
- International flights
- Visa
- Meals that are not part of your accommodation
- A porter to carry your daypack during gorilla tracking
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